Hitch structure for agricultural implements

ABSTRACT

A foldable hitch structure for use on an elongated agricultural implement convertible between a wide, generally crosswise operating position and a narrow, generally longitudinal transport position, the hitch comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected to spaced points on the implement frame at their rearward ends and pivotally interconnected at their forward ends. The hitch is adapted for connection to the drawbar of a tractor at a point near the interconnection of the two arms, and one of the arms is telescopic to permit the structure to fold from an operating position, wherein the connection point is located forwardly of the implement, to a transport position, wherein the connection point is located toward one end thereof. A spring biased latch pin is actuated by movement of the telescopic arm to secure the hitch in either position.

United States Patent 1 1 Patterson et a1.

1 1 HITCH STRUCTURE FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS [75] Inventors: RogerLee Patterson, Fonthill;

Henning Isachsen, Merritton, Ontario, both of Canada [73] Assignee:Deere & Company, Moline, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 85,377

[52] US. Cl. 280/478 A, 172/679 [51] Int. Cl 860d 1/14 [58] Field ofSearch 280/478, 479, 412, 280/462; 172/679, 285; 292/60, 61, 59, 266,277, 332, 333

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,410,577 11/1968 Luinstra280/478 A 3,154,325 10/1964 Thompson et al. 280/478 R 2,950,927 8/1960Hcndrickson 280/412 X 3,279,819 10/1966 Edmonds 280/478 B 2,384,2449/1945 Forncy r 280/478 R 1,037,302 9/1912 Parent 292/332 Aug. 7, 1973Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney-H. Vincent Harsha, Harold M.Knoth, William A. Murray, Raymond L. Hollister and John M. Nolan [57]ABSTRACT A foldable hitch structure for use on an elongated agriculturalimplement convertible between a wide, generally crosswise operatingposition and a narrow, generally longitudinal transport position, thehitch comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected to spaced points onthe implement frame at their rearward ends and pivotally interconnectedat their forward ends. The hitch is adapted for connection to thedrawbar of a tractor at a point near the interconnection of the twoarms, and one of the arms is telescopic to permit the structure to foldfrom an operating position, wherein the connection point is locatedforwardly of the implement, to a transport'position, wherein theconnection point is located toward one end thereof. A spring biasedlatch pin is actuated by movement of the telescopic arm to secure thehitch in either position.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAUB SHEEI 1 BF 2 INVENTORS ROGER L.PATTERSON HENNING ISACHSEN PATENTED AUG 7 .9755

SHEET 2 OF 2 wk. v

INVENTORS ROGER L. PATTERSON HENNING ISACHSEN HITCH STRUCTURE FORAGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS The present invention relates generally toagricultural implements, and more particularly to a foldable hitchstructure for use on an implement of the type convertible between awide, generally crosswise operating position and a narrow, generallylongitudinal transport position. 1

Provision must be included in the design of large agriculturalimplements to reduce their width for transport purposes due torestrictions imposed by the width of existing roadways, gateways, andthe like. Although various means have been employed in the pastdepending upon the particular implement, in the case of disk tillers andother implements having an elongated configuration, the conventionalmethod of providing a decreased width for transport is to transport theimplement in an endwise manner. Since the draft hitch structure of aconventional disk tiller extends substantially forwardly of theelongated frame in the operating position, conversion of the implementto an endwise transport position in the past has necessitated arearrangement of the draft hitch to further reduce the transport width,plus the addition of a separate transport hitch on the end of theimplement. On machines heretofore available, such steps have involvedadditional cost and considerable time and effort on the part of theoperator to effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of thepresent invention to provide a hitch structure for use on a disk tilleror similar implement adapted for endwise transport which is convertiblebetween operating and transport positions with a minimum expenditure oftime and effort on the part of the operator. More particularly, it is anobject to provide such a hitch structure comprising a pair ofinterconnected, forwardly extending arms, one of the arms beingtelescopic to permit the structure to fold between an operatingposition, in which the tractor connecting point on the hitch is disposedforwardly and between the ends of the implement frame, and a transportposition, in which the connecting point is disposed adjacent to theframe and toward one end thereof. It is a further object to providespring-biased latch means actuated by movement of the telescopic arm tolock the structure in either position.

In pursuance of these and other objects, the hitch structure of thepresent invention comprises, generally, a first arm including a pair oftelescopic members, one of the members being pivotally mounted on theframe toward one end thereof and-the other member being movablelongitudinally within the first. A second arm of fixed length ispivotally mounted on the frame toward the opposite end thereof and isinterconnected at its outer end to the longitudinally movable member ofthe first arm. A spring-biased latch pin acts between the two memberscomprising the telescopic arm to lock the arm, and thereby the entirehitch structure, in either its transport or operating position. Uponmanual disengagement of the pin the arm is free to telescope, therebypermitting the hitch structure to move between the two positions. Thepin is locked out of engagement with the longitudinally movable memberby rotating it until a stop on the pin engages a stop on the arm. As thearm telescope between positions aprojection on the movable membercontacts an offset portion of the pin, thereby rotating the stop on thepin out of engagement with the stop on the arm and releasing the pinfrom its disengaged position. The pin is thereafter free to drop intoits locking position when a pin-receiving aperture in the movablemember, corresponding with one of the hitch positions, comes intoalignment therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a disk tiller incorporating the foldable hitchstructure of the present invention, the transport positions of theimplement and hitch being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the telescopic arm andlatch device ofthe invention, with portions broken away to more clearly illustrate itsconstruction;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the arm shown in FIG. 2, with the latch deviceshown in its engaged position, and,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the latch device in its disengaged position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, thehitch structure of the invention is illustrated as incorporated on adisk tiller 10, the tiller, as is conventional in such implements,having a generally crosswise working position, indicated by thedirection of the wheels in solid lines in the figure, and a generallylongitudinal or endwise transport position, indicated by the directionof the wheels in dashed lines. The tiller includes an elongated framestructure 12 supported relative to the ground by a furrow wheel 14, arear furrow wheel 16, and a land wheel 18. The front furrow wheel 14 iscarried by a generally vertical arm 20 which is pivotally mounted at 22on the outer end of a second, laterally extending arm 24. The pivotalmounting 22 permits the wheel 14 to assume the dashed line transportposition and to act as asteerable wheel as will be subsequentlydescribed. The laterally extending arm 24, in turn, is adjustablymounted on the right front comer of the frame 12 to pennit lateraladjustment of the wheel position. In a somewhat similar manner,'the landwheel 18 is carried by a generally vertical arm 26 pivotally mounted at28 to the forward end of a second arm 30, the pivotal mounting 28permitting the wheel 18 to assume its transport position and to casterduring operation of the tiller. The rear end of the 7 arm 30. is rigidlyconnected to the frame 12. The mechanism mounting the rear furrow wheel16 on the frame is of conventional design and need not be described indetail. In general, the wheel 16 is carried on the end of a rearwardlyextending arm 32pivoted at 34 on the end of the frame 12. A second arm36 is held rigid and generally perpendicular to the arm 32, and a bankof coil springs 38, anchored to the frame at 40, acts through a flexiblecable 42 trained around a variable radius sheave 44 to bias the arm 36against a triangular'stop 46 on the frame. The wheel 16 is thus normallyheld in the solid line position, but it can pivot about the point 34against the urging of the springs 38 to assume the dashed line positionfor transport purposes, and can pivot further to negotiate left-handturns. An adjustable link 48, holdingthe arms 32 and 36 rigid, permitsadjustment of the lateral position of the wheel 16, and an adjustablelink 50, interconnecting the wheel axle 52 and the arm 36, permitsadjustment of the angle of the wheel. A third link assembly 54 mountedon the forward end of the arm 32 and extending through a trunion 55 onthe frame is operable to lock the wheel 16 in its transport position.

Five gangs of disks 56 are mounted along the rear of the frame 12 forvertical movement into and out of engagement with the ground. Each gangis independently resiliently mounted to enable the implement to maintaina uniform disking depth despite lateral variations in the ground level.In general, the forward ends of each of the gangs 56 are resilientlycoupled to an elongated shaft 58 extending along the rear of the frame12 and parallel therewith. A hydraulic cylinder 60 acts through alinkage designated generally at 62 to rotate the shaft and thereby raiseand lower the disks.

The hitch structure of the invention comprises, generally, a pair ofarms 64 and 66 connected at their rearward ends to longitudinally spacedpoints on the frame 12 and interconnected at their forward ends to forma triangle with the frame 12. As indicated with dashed lines in FIG. 1,the arm 64 is formed of two telescopically arranged members, the forwardend of the arm 66 being pivotally connected. to the movable member ofthe arm 64 to permit the entire structure to fold inwardly toward theframe 12 and extend longitudinally toward the right forward end thereoffor transport purposes.

The telescopic arm 64, as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, iscomposed of a first, hollow channel member 68, and a second member 70received within the member 68 and movable axially relative thereto. Therear end of the hollow member 68 is mounted on a bracket 72 fixed to thefront side of the frame 12, for pivotal movement about vertical andhorizontal axes indicated at 74 and 76, respectively.

A single, cylindrical roller 78, mounted in the bifurcated inner end ofthe axially movable member 70, and a pair of inclined rollers 80 and 82,mounted on a block 84 fixed to the outer end of the hollow member 68 andengaging the upper edges of the member 70, serve as bearing meansbetween the members 68 and 70. A bracket 86 is fixed to the outer end ofthe member 70 and extends outwardly therefrom to pivotally receive, at87, the outer end of the second arm 66, the inner end of the arm 66being mounted on a bracket 88 fixed to the forward end of the frame 12for pivotal movement about vertical and horizontal axes indicated at 90and 92, respectively. From the foregoing description, it will beapparent that as the hitch structurefolds between its operating andtransport positions, the member 68 of the telescopic arm 64 will pivotabout the vertical axis 74, the arm 66 will pivot about the verticalaxis 90, the member 70 of the arm 64 will move axially within the member68, and the arm 66 will pivot about the vertical axis 87 relative to themember 70.

Mounted on the outer end of the member 70 and movable therewith betweenthe two positions is an assembly 94 adapted for connection to thedrawbar of the tractor. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the connectingassembly 94 is thereby movable between an outer or operating positionforwardly of and generally between the ends of the tiller, and an inneror transport position toward one end thereof. The assembly 94 comprisesupper and lower members 96 and 98, respectively, extending above andbelow the outer end of the axially movable member and pivotally mountedrelative thereto on a vertical pin 100,'the pin 100 extending throughand fixed to the member 70. The forward ends of the members 96 and 98abut each other and are provided with aligned apertures for receiving asuitable hitch locking pin (not shown), while the rear portions of themembers are maintained in rigid, vertical spaced relation withfore-and-aft bolt and spacer assemblies 102 and 104, respectively. Anadjustable steering arm 106, as shown in FIG. I, connects the rearwardend of the upper member 96 with the arm 20 carrying the front furrowwheel 14. During operation of the tiller, the position of the wheel 14is thus governed by the position of the assembly 94. In straight-aheadwork the positions of the assembly and wheel approximate those shown insolid linesin FIG. 1, the wheel thereby maintaining the tiller in theproper working position. When a left turn is negotiated by the tractor,however, the rear end of the member will swing toward the wheel, and thelatter will be turned to the left to guide the tiller around the turn.Swinging movement of the connecting assembly 94 is limited by a pair ofstops I08 and on opposite sides of the member 70 and engageabletherewith, the stops being fixed to the-sides of a plate 112 adjustablyheld against the lower surface of the member 96 by the rear bolt andspacer assembly 104,-

and further maintained in position by means of a notch in its rear endengaging the pin 100. When the tiller is prepared for transport the arm106 is removed, the wheel thus being free to caster, and the assembly 94is locked in alignment with the arm 64, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, bymeans of an L-shaped pin 114 inserted through aligned apertures in themembers 96, 112, 70, and 98.

A spring-biased latch pin 116, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4,serves to maintain the hitch structure in either its operating or itstransport position by preventing relative longitudinal movement betweenthe members 68 and 70 of the telescopic arm 64. The pin is mounted onthe upper surface of the member 68 adjacent to the outer end thereof andis axially movable through aligned apertures in the bight portion of aU- shaped supporting member 118, the upper and lower walls of the member68, and the axially movable member 70, the latter member having two suchapertures 119 and 121 longitudinally spaced to correspond with theoperating and transport positions, respectively, of the hitch structure.The pin 116 is movable between a raised, inoperative position shown inFIG. 4 and a lowered, operative position shown in FIG. 3. Reinforcingplates and 122 are provided on the upper and lower walls, respectively,of the member 68 around the pin-receiving apertures therein. A pair offore-and-aft stops I24 and 126 on the member 70 abut stop blocks 84 and130, respectively, on the member 68 to define the operating andtransport positions of the arm 64. The stops are so positioned that thecorresponding aperture in the member 70 is properly aligned with thehitch pin 116 in each positiomThe pin 116 is biased axially toward itslowered, operative position by means of a coil spring 132 acting betweenthe upper closed end of the U-shaped support 118 and a small pin 1234extending outwardly from opposite sides of the pin 116. In addition toserving as a stop for the spring 132, the small pin 134 serves also tolimit the downward movement of the pin 116 by contacting the uppersurface of the reinforcing plate 120 (FIG. 3). and as a stop forengaging a pair of fore-and-aft projections 136 and 138 on the walls ofthe U-shaped support 118, to thereby lock the pin in its raised,inoperative position (FIG. 4). As is apparent from the size and locationof the projections 136 and 138, they are operable to retain the pin inits inoperative position only when the latter is rotated about its axisto a locking position in which the small pin 134 is disposed inlongitudinal orientation relative to the arm 64, the latter positionillustrated in FIG. 4. A handle 140 is provided on the upper end of thepin 116 for raising and rotating it into the locking position forengagement with the projections 136 and 138.

1n the raised, inoperative position of FIG. 4, an axially offsetprojection 142 on the extreme lower end of the pin 116 extends below thesurface of the top wall of the member 68 and in close proximity to thetop surface of the movable member 70. The projection 142 is formed onthe pin to lie crosswise of the arm 64 when the pin is rotated to itslocking position. In the embodiment illustrated, for example, since thesmall pin 134 is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the arm 64 whenthe pin 116 is rotated to its locking position, the projection 142 isnecessarily disposed perpendicularly to the small pin 134. A smallprojection 144 is provided on the upper surface of the member 70 betweenthe apertures 119 and 121 and offset from the centers thereof to engagethe radial outer end of the projection 142 on the lower end of the pin116, and thereby rotate the latter 90 from its locking position shown inFIG, 4 to an unlocking position shown in FIG. 3. When so rotated thesmall pin 134 is disengagedfrom the projections 136 and 138 and, the pin116 is thus moved by the spring 132 downwardly against the top surfaceof the member 70 until one of the holes 119 or 12] comes into alignmenttherewith,'whereupon the pin will drop through the hole to lock the armin position.

The operation of the hitch structure will now be described. Since thesteps for converting the implement from the transport to the operatingposition are merely a reversal of those required to convert from theoperating to the transport position, only the latter will be described.Initially, the disk gangs 56 are raised clear of the ground by means ofthe cylinder 60. The implement is then pulled to the left, causing therear furrow wheel 16 to pivot about the pin 34 to the position indicatedwith dashed lines in FIG. 1, and the wheel is locked in the latterposition. The steering arm 106 is then removed and the connectingassembly 94 is aligned with the arm 64 and locked with the pin 114. Thelatch pin 116 is next manually withdrawn from its operative position inthe aperture 119 in the number 70, and rotated to its locking positionwherein the outer ends of the small pin 134 engage the projections 136and 138 on the U-shaped support 118, thereby locking the pin 116 in theraised, inoperative position and releasing the structure from itsoperating position. As the tractor is pulled forwardly, the inner member70 of the arm 64 will be pulled outwardly through the hollow member 68as the structure folds to the dashed line transport position of FIG. 1.As the arm 64 telescopes, the projection 144 on the member 70 willengage the outer end of the projection 142 on the lower end of the pin116, thereby rotating the pin to its unlocking position and releasingthe pin from its raised, inoperative position. The rounded lower end ofthe projection 142 will thus bear against the surface of the member 70until the stop 126 engages the stop block 130 and the aperture 121 inthe member is aligned with the pin, whereupon the pin will drop throughthe aperture 121 to lock the structure in the transport position.

We claim:

1. Hitch structure comprising:

a. a telescopic arm movable between extended and retracted positions andincluding a pair of relatively longitudinally movable members; a latchpin acting between said members for releasably securing said arm in itsextended and retracted positions, said pin being mounted on one of saidmembers for axial movement between an operative position wherein saidlatch pin is engageable with the other of said members at spaced pointsthereon corresponding with the extended and retracted positions thereof,and an inoperative position, and for rotational movement about its axisbetween locking and unlocking positions;

c. means acting between said one member and said latch pin for biasingthelatter axially toward its operative position;

d. first stop means on said one member;

e. second stop means on said pin for locking said latch pin in itsinoperative position out of engagementwith said other member, saidsecond stop means being engageable by said first stop means when saidpin is moved axially out of engagement with said other member androtated to its locking position; and 1 f. means on said other memberbetween said spaced points thereon engageable with said pin in responseto movement of said other member between its extended and retractedpositions and operative to rotate said pin from its locking to itsunlocking position.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 including stop means on said membersdefining the extended and retracted positions of said arm.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 including a first, axially offsetprojection on said pin, and a second'projection on said other memberbetween said spaced points thereon and engageable with said firstprojection as said other member is moved between its extended andretracted positions.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said second stop meanscomprises a radial projection on said pin, and including structure onsaid one member supporting said pin for axial sliding movement, and acoil spring surrounding said pin and acting between said supportstructure and said projection to axially bias said pin for engagementwith said other member.

5. The invention defined in claim 4'wherein said projection isengageable with said one member to limit axial movement of said pin.

6. In combination with an elongated agricultural implement having amobile frame movable between a wide, generally crosswise operatingposition and a narrow, generally longitudinal transport position, hitchmeans convertible between said operating and transport positionscomprising:

a. first arm means including first and second relatively longitudinallymovable members, said first member being connected at one end to saidframe for horizontal pivotal movement;

b. second arm means connected at one end to said frame for horizontalpivotal movement at a point on said frame spaced from said first member,and connected at its opposite end for horizontal pivotal movement tosaid second member, whereby said first and second arm means arehorizontally foldable between transport and operating positions towardand away from said frame, respectively;

c. means on the outer end of one of said arm for connection to thedrawbar of a tractor and movable with said one arm between saidoperating and transport positions;

d. a latch pin acting between said first and second members forreleasably securing said first arm means in its operating and transportpositions, said pin being mounted on one of said members for axialmovement between an operative position wherein said latch pin isengageable with the other of said members at spaced points thereoncorresponding with the operating and transport positions thereof, and aninoperative position, and for rotational movement about its axis betweenlocking and unlocking positions;

e. means acting between said one member and said latch pin for biasingthe latter axially toward its operative position;

f. first stop means on said one member;

g. second stop means on said pin for locking said latch pin in itsinoperative position out of engagement with said other member, saidsecond stop means being engageable by said first stop means when saidpin is moved axially out of engagement with said other member androtated to its locking position; and

h. means on said other member between said spaced points thereonengageable with said pin in response to movement of said other memberbetween its extended and retracted positions and operative to rotatesaid pin from its locking to its unlocking position.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said latch pin is mounted onsaid first member.

8. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said connection means ismounted on said second member.

1. Hitch structure comprising: a. a telescopic arm movable betweenextended and retracted positions and including a pair of relativelylongitudinally movable members; b. a latch pin acting between saidmembers for releasably securing said arm in its extended and retractedpositions, said pin being mounted on one of said members for axialmovement between an operative position wherein said latch pin isengageable with the other of said members at spaced points thereoncorresponding with the extended and retracted positions thereof, and aninoperative position, and for rotational movement about its axis betweenlocking and unlocking positions; c. means acting between said one memberand said latch pin for biasing the latter axially toward its operativeposition; d. first stop means on said one member; e. second stop meanson said pin for locking said latch pin in its inoperative position outof engagement with said other member, said second stop means beingengageable by said first stop means when said pin is moved axially outof engagement with said other member and rotated to its lockingposition; and f. means on said other member between said spaced pointsthereon engageable with said pin in response to movement of said othermember between its extended and retracted positions and operative torotate said pin from its locking to its unlocking position.
 2. Theinvention defined in claim 1 including stop means on said membersdefining the extended and retracted positions of said arm.
 3. Theinvention defined in claim 1 including a first, axially offsetprojection on said pin, and a second projection on said other memberbetween said spaced points thereon and engageable with said firstprojection as said other member is moved between its extended andretracted positions.
 4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein saidsecond stop means comprises a radial projection on said pin, andincluding structure on said one member supporting said pin for axialsliding movement, and a coil spring surrounding said pin and actingbetween said support structure and said projection to axially bias saidpin for engagement with said other member.
 5. The invention defined inclaim 4 wherein said projection is engageable with said one member tolimit axial movement of said pin.
 6. In combination with an elongatedagricultural implement having a mobile frame movable between a wide,generally crosswise operating position and a narrow, generallylongitudinal transport position, hitch means convertible between saidoperating and transport positions comprising: a. first arm meansincluding first and second relatively longitudinally movable members,said first member being connected at one end to said frame forhorizontal pivotal movement; b. second arm means connected at one end tosaid frame for horizontal pivotal movement at a point on said framespaced from said first member, and connected at its opposite end forhorizontal pivotal movement to said second member, whereby said firstand second arm means are horizontally foldable between transport andoperating positions toward and away from said frame, respectively; c.means on the outer end of one of said arm for connection to the drawbarof a tractor and movable with said one arm between said operating andtransport positions; d. a latch pin acting between said first and secondmembers for releasably securing said first arm means in its operatingand transport positions, said pin being mounted on one of said membersfor axial movement between an operative position wherein said latch pinis engageable with the other of said members at spaced points thereoncorresponding with the operating and transport positions thereof, and aninoperative position, and for rotational movement about its axis betweenlocking and unlocking positions; e. means acting between said one memberand said latch pin for biasing the latter axially toward its operativeposition; f. first stop means on said one member; g. second stop meanson said pin for locking said latch pin in its inoperative position outof engagement with said other member, said second stop means beingengageable by said first stop means when said pin is moved axially outof engagement with said other member and rotated to its lockingposition; and h. means on said other member between said spaced pointsthereon engageable with said pin in response to movement of said othermember between its extended and retracted positions and operative torotate said pin from its locking to its unlocking position.
 7. Theinvention defined in claim 6 wherein said latch pin is mounted on saidfirst member.
 8. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein saidconnection means is mounted on said second member.